A weekend break in Norfolk with Scout the Holiday Hound

I love taking Scout away to the countryside where he is free to run as wild as he fancies. Seeing him bounding away like the wind in an open field or towards the breaking waves on the beach with a look of pure happiness on his face is so enjoyable to me.

I sourced a dog friendly property from Rural Retreats with whom I have booked with for the last two years. They always come up trumps with something suitable for my needs and affords me a true home from home experience. Why go away and settle for less than you already have? Living and working in the city I look forward to getting away to the peace and quiet of the country for a few days.

I chose 'The Treasury' a gorgeous one bedroom cottage on the Wolterton Hall Estate with about 500 acres of fields and woodlands in Norfolk and about 10 miles south of Cromer on the north coast. It has all you could want for a mini break - a lovely cosy sitting room with an open fire, a fully fitted kitchen, a spacious bedroom with ample storage, and a fabulous bathroom with a claw foot bath, a vaulted ceiling and under floor heating. They owners even provide a hamper with essentials like bread, milk, butter, eggs, cheese, tea, coffee, granola and preserves. 

There are shops within a few minutes drive away for anything else you might just want or you can bring your own supplies which is what I like to do. 

Scout could be walked anywhere on the grounds of the estate although they do suggest dogs are walked on leads near the livestock. The entrance from the road to the Hall is about half a mile along a pretty tree lined road with fields of sheep on either side.

About 5 minutes walk from the entrance of the estate is the Saracen's Head pub where they do bed and breakfast, lunch and dinner. They allow dogs into a separate part of the restaurant near the bar so Scout was allowed to come to dinner. I made sure to contact them a few days prior to going and they suggested reserving a table to ensure Scout could be accommodated. Bear in mind if you come to this part of the country that there are no streetlights so everything is virtually pitch black at night. Either drive or wear high visibility clothing for the walk and bring a torch.

The forecast rain stayed away for the most part which was fortuitous as it meant Scout and I had a beautiful walk around the estate in the morning before heading out for lunch at the Gunton Arms about 20 minutes drive away.

This dog friendly pub was once a country house in the 1,000 acre deer park surrounding Gunton Hall. Converted about 10 years ago, it is now a traditional pub with bed and breakfast with the room interiors designed by Robert Kime.

The owner's passion for art is seen throughout and you can see works by Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Lucian Freud to name but a few. The surrounding parkland also has sculpture by well known artists.

The current partners in the business previously worked at Mark Hix restaurants in London and have brought with them the principles of using local and seasonal products including seafood. In fact you will find that ethos a lot in this part of the world. It's so refreshing.

The Elk room of the restaurant has a magnificent set of antlers over the range where they cook venison from the deer park. I can only imagine the size of that giant specimen when he was alive!

I love fresh seafood and just had to have a Cromer crab salad to start followed by fish and chips. It was accompanied by their delicious version of mushy peas which was served slightly al dente with mint. 

The next day we drove to Cromer beach so that Scout could have a good run and a swim if he wanted. He did take a dip but I suspect the waves and maybe the cold put him off an actual swim. I love the joy in his face and his enthusiasm when he's beside the sea. I'm with him on that though. I adore being by the sea at any time of the year. There's something about being by the water that makes me feel positive and elated.

The great thing about staying in a self contained cottage is the ability to treat is as your home so that if you fancy a cozy night in you can cook yourself a meal and relax by the fire with a glass of wine which is exactly what we did for the last night of the weekend. Scout was pooped from his beach adventure and happily stretched out on his bed and slept like a baby.


Before leaving the next day we had one last walk around the estate on a beautiful, crisp cold, misty morning. There was not a sound to be heard other than our footsteps on the carpet of fallen leaves. No cars or planes flying overhead - the silence was almost deafening and only sometimes punctuated with the cry of a bird or a sheep baa-ing in the distance. 

It was a wonderful retreat from the constant hum of the city and I would love to come back to this area again and spend more time exploring. There is so much to see and do in this part of the country and we only touched on a small portion of it. 

* * * * *

Rural Retreats - Self catering luxury cottages in the UK and Ireland

https://www.ruralretreats.co.uk

Wolterton Hall - Historic Georgian Estate

https://www.woltertonpark.co.uk

The Saracen's Head - 200 year old Georgian Inn, Wolterton

http://www.saracenshead-norfolk.co.uk/index.php

The Gunton Arms - Traditional pub with bedrooms, Thorpe Market

https://www.theguntonarms.co.uk

Cromer Beach - Traditional Victorian seaside resort

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g609059-d4424648-Reviews-Cromer_Beach-Cromer_Norfolk_East_Anglia_England.html

Norfolk's top 10 beaches
https://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/inspire/top-10-beaches.aspx

* * * * *

Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen .. weekend break

This has been the year of weekends away for me. It's a great way to break up the work life treadmill because a couple of days out of your normal routine can feel like a week depending on how much you are able to cram in to the available time.

Copenhagen has been on my list for a long time. My best friend and frequent travel companion and I picked this last weekend just gone to go. Flights are reasonable at this time of year, and although we had no idea how the weather would pan out, we were so lucky to get beautiful late September sunshine for the two days we were there. We stayed at the Copenhagen Marriott, which is in a great location right on the river and within easy reach of the city centre and the train station. You can get a train directly from the airport for 36DKK (approx. £4 or US$5) which takes 15 minutes.

Deciding what to do is key with the time you have available. We had no desire to shop, although it's always nice to see what's around, so we made the choice to head out of town about an hour north  on the train to visit the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. I had heard so many positive things about it and it was perfectly doable for day one and yet still have time to do the other things on our list.

Our day started with breakfast at the hotel, in the Midtown Grill. We wanted an authentic Danish pastry and I have to say it was the freshest, lightest pastry I have ever tasted.

We walked the few minutes to the station and  bought a combined ticket which included our return train journey and museum entrance fee for 210DKK each (approx. £26 or US$32 at current exchange rate).

With a Museum ticket each paying adult can bring two children under 12 years on the train and travel free of charge. Children over 12 have to pay for the train ticket but can get free admission to the museum if they are under 18.

The walk from Humlebæk Station to the museum takes about 10 minutes. There was a line for ticket purchase but having pre purchased ours we could just walk in. The museum exhibits mostly modern art and sculpture from the mid-twentieth century to the present from its own extensive collection and a variety of temporary exhibitions. The house and grounds are beautiful with woodland trails and sculptures around every corner. We were lucky to have such a beautiful clear day and could see Sweden across the water.

The café overlooking the sea to Sweden was very busy given the day that we had so we didn't stop for coffee, but it was the perfect place for a picnic and some last of the summer sunshine to enjoy.

We strolled back to the station and returned to Copenhagen early afternoon. Feeling a little peckish we walked to the Tivoli Hotel for lunch at the rooftop restaurant Sticks n Sushi Skybar, where you can get a great view of the river and the city.

There was a wide choice of dishes on the menu and we took some recommendations from the staff. Hotate kataifi - scallops, miso aioli, trout roe and cress, Ebi bites (right) - tempura shrimp and Imo Yaki (right) - sweet potato teriyaki. All absolutely delicious and just enough for lunch.

I definitely plan to go to the new Soho restaurant when it opens in October!

After lunch, we headed into the centre of town to have a walk around and take in the sites and culture. There are people riding bikes and bike lanes everywhere so do take care when walking and stick to the sidewalks. Saturday afternoon was very busy, even though a lot of the shops close at 4pm. People were out in the autumnal sunshine and enjoying the outdoor cafes and bars. We went into the Illum department store and decided to head to the rooftop where there are a number of different restaurants and bars to choose from.

As you can imagine, it was quite busy but we managed to get a table on the outdoor roof terrace at Brasserie Jacobsen where we enjoyed a glass or two of our favourite Whispering Angel rose. I can understand why it's called the city's coolest rooftop with the best view in town. With a DJ playing fab tunes and a diverse mix of clientele, it's a lovely place just to hang out.

We still wanted to get to the see the Little Mermaid situated at Langelinie promenade at the end of the harbour. It was about a half hour away by foot, so we started our walk as the sun was going down and hoped that we would make it before it actually went dark. It was so beautiful along the waterfront witnessing the changing light of the evening.

I have always wanted to see this iconic statue, based on the fairy tale by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen about a mermaid becoming human. It has been in existence since 1913 and was created by sculptor Edvard Eriksen.

We continued our walk at pace as the sky dimmed by the minute and we made it in time. We were so glad to see it in the fading light. Another childhood dream fulfilled.

From there we hailed a cab. We were done with the walking after clocking up over 20,000 steps during the day. We went to a recommended fish restaurant in the Meatpacking district Kødbyens Fiskebar. Serving fresh seafood they have a preference for choosing local and sustainable products. My friend had Danish Oysters and I had fish and chips. Delicious food and wines with a buzzy atmosphere and we even bought the t-shirt!

Day 2 and with a few hours to spare before our respective journeys home, we visited the Danish Museum of Art and Design. The building it is housed in was once a hospital and it sort of has that stark feel about it. There are lockers to leave your bags in as they don't like you to carry anything remotely big inside. Entrance is 115 DKK (approx. £14 US$17). Free if you are under 26. You will need a 20 DKK coin to lock it and retrieve the key but you get it back afterwards.

The museum has an extensive permanent collection of Danish designed furniture - predominantly chairs, arts and crafts, lighting, porcelain, books and a current exhibition until December on the Bauhaus Centenary. There is also an interesting shop and lovely café with an outdoor area to sit if the weather is nice. They are closed on a Monday.

We went back to the hotel to check out and had lunch and the obligatory glass of champagne outdoors in the sunshine overlooking the river. A perfect way to end a wonderful weekend away.

Today is the autumnal equinox when the sun is over the equator and marks the official start of autumn here in the northern hemisphere. Days are getting shorter and darker and winter is on the horizon.

In just under 2 months, I'll be heading a little further afield to a more exotic location and some winter sunshine which I cannot wait to see, experience and tell you about.

The S word .. September, Solheim Cup, Scotland and Success for Team Europe!

I had the great pleasure in being a part of the Solheim Cup makeup team this year for Sky Sports. The event was held at the prestigious PGA Centenary course at Gleneagles in Perthshire, Scotland. Having been there before, I did my first ever golf Outside Broadcast for the Ryder Cup in 2014. I love Scotland and all it's rugged beauty and Gleneagles is set in the most beautiful location. Golfing is just a small part of the many activities and pursuits available on the estate so if it's not your thing that shouldn't restrict you from visiting.

We travelled up the day before the Opening Ceremony so that we could set up and be ready for it and the following three days of the championship. You could feel the excitement building as the Ceremony got underway with the band Texas belting out some of their well known hits before the teams were introduced. 

Our make up cabin was situated right by the lake with a stunning view extending out to the Gleneagles hotel and beautifully managed lawns and gardens.

Day 1 of the championship we were up at 4am and ready for our half hour coach transfer from where we were staying in Stirling. The upside of getting up at this hour was witnessing the stunning sunrise. Most of the time we were blessed with perfect autumn days with the exception of day 2 when the gale force winds blasted through the cold air and brought a smattering of rain with it.

Our early starts meant that we could also have one day when we could finish early and have some free time to explore the area if we wished. My afternoon off was spent with some of the camera crew. We decided to visit the National Wallace Monument in Stirling and we couldn't have picked a nicer day to do it. The Monument has existed for 150 years and is an imposing tower on top of a hill which overlooks the scene of Scotland's victory of the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

Instead of taking the mini bus to the top, we chose to walk up the winding path of the woodcarving trail through the woodland which documents Stirling's history from the Ice Age to the building of the monument. In the year 5,000 BC the bones of a whale were washed up on the prehistoric shoreline at the Carse of Stirling, hence the woodcarving we are standing by on the right.

From there we walked about 20 mins into Stirling to a recommended pub called the Birds and Bees where we sat outside in the autumn sunshine and enjoyed a drink. Once the sun started to dip and it got a little cool, we hopped in a taxi which took us to the Bridge of Allan to another recommended pub/restaurant the Westerton Arms where we had a lovely meal.

We were back at our hotel by 8pm as we had to make sure we were up again at 4am the next morning for Day 2 and prepared for the forecast of wind and rain.

Day 3 and the final day brought the perfect weather back again and an exciting, nail biting finish when Team Europe secured the victory over Team USA at the last hole winning by just 1 point. What a way to end a competition!

Make up kit packed and ready to go, de-rig underway we were heading back to Stirling as the sun went down to pack our belongings and grab a celebratory drink with the crew before our coach transfer to Edinburgh the following morning for our flight home.

The people of Scotland as always were warm, welcoming and hospitable - thanks for another great experience at a golf tournament. See you again next time!

Portrush and the Giant's Causeway .. work and play

The Ruins of Dunluce Castle at sunset

I love going somewhere new, and Northern Ireland is relatively new to me. I have been to Belfast before but didn't see much of it as I had gone there for a flying visit on a job. Years ago I crossed the border from the South to Enniskillen but that's as far as my travels in this part of the island of Ireland had gone.

This year in my role as a make up artist, my colleagues and I were tasked with looking after the on-air talent for The Open championship at Royal Portrush for the Sky Sports Golf channel.

Portrush Harbour

We flew into Belfast airport and drove the hour or so to Portrush in County Antrim. It is a beautiful part of the country with loads to see along the way, so we were fortunate enough to find a little free time to see some of it during our visit. We stayed right in Portrush town about 10 minutes walk from the golf course, which meant we were able to walk to the harbour area for a meal or a drink after work. 

The weather was changeable over the few days of the preview shows and championship days and of course we had to be prepared for anything! We had an Open Zone which was under cover but out on the course there was none so wet gear for the crew and umbrellas for the presenters were essential. We were warned in advance about summer in Northern Ireland!

Before our real work began on the tournament, we decided we absolutely had to visit the Giant's Causeway so we went directly after work one evening. 

We were lucky as we made it before the rains were due. Being high summer the light lasted way past 10pm at night. It was about a 20 minute drive from Portrush to Bushmills and we were able to park in the car park at the Causeway Hotel which is right next to the Visitors Centre. It had closed for the day but it was still possible to walk the half a mile or so to the ancient basalt columns by the sea. There were a few people there but not enough to spoil the many photo opportunities we had to capture the stunning natural beauty of this area.

Back to work the next day and we battled with the elements ranging from brilliant sunshine to wind and driving rain. I had some gorgeous men's grooming products to try and had great success with them.

Preview show

Murdock London

All the men's hair needed to look good for the outdoors without looking overly styled and Murdock London Sea Salt Spray worked wonders on our male guests who needed a little help controlling their hair. The Sea Salt Spray adds volume and texture and gives a slightly matt appearance which is just right for live TV on location. Used on damp hair I blowdried it off into the intended style and finished it off with Texture Paste using my fingers. Perfect for Nick Dougherty's short hair and Paul McGinley's quiff which seemed to grow in height as the week went on!

Another great addition to my make up kit was Balmkind Alpine Rose & Lysine lip balm with SPF 20. When you're stuck outdoors as we were, this was perfect for keeping lips hydrated and protected from the sun and wind.

Storm clouds approaching

Despite the changeable conditions, it was a lot of fun being ferried around on golf buggies to various locations around the course. Extra layers of clothing were on standby and my trusty Rain's Long Jacket and Backpack mini were perfect companions to my wet weather kit. How to stay dry and look relatively stylish whilst feeling like a drowned rat.

The winner Shane Lowry

The final day was most certainly the worst of the weather, with the howling wind and at times horizontal rain, so it was wonderful to see an Irishman, Shane Lowry beat Tommy Fleetwood to win the claret jug amidst a jubilantly raucous home crowd.


The 149th Open 2020 will be held at Royal St. Georges in Kent, England.

Crete Part 4 - Chrissi Island

The end of our glorious week in Crete was approaching. With just one full day left we joined an excursion to Chrissi Island. I hadn't even heard of it till relatively recently when a work colleague told me about it and suggested I go if I had the time.

Not one to miss an opportunity, we asked the travel rep at our hotel to help organise a day trip for us. We were picked up by a cab that drove us to Agio Nikolaos where we joined a coach which transported us to Ierapetra on the south coast. There we boarded a packed ferry for the one hour journey to Chrissi Island.

We had a smooth crossing as it was a fine day with not too much wind and upon arrival on the south side of the island the masses starting heading north for the 10 minute walk to the famous Golden Beach. We opted to stop at the beach bar for a cold drink and a bite to eat before going. There was a grill bar serving fresh souvlaki which was perfect with a cold beer and we stayed about half an hour before our pilgrimage to the beach. The island looks like a lost world of gnarled trees and bushes and is a protected eco system. There are a few signs which ask that you please leave nothing but your footprints.


When we got to the beach it was quite busy and almost every inch of limited shade was taken although we did find a little enclave under some trees. 

I checked out the beach and the sea which was crystal clear but the sand is quite gritty, consisting of tiny broken shells and course sand. There are many pebbles and rocks to navigate until you are able to swim. The easier part of the beach was so crowded we stayed away. I wish I had brought my aqua shoes so I suggest if you go they would be very useful. 

We stayed for a while but decided to go back to the beach near to where we arrived. It was less crowded and we were able to get loungers and umbrellas for €5 each to shield us from the baking sun.

After a few hours on the island we returned the same way we had come. Another wonderful day to remember.

Back at the hotel again, we went to the pool bar and had their gorgeous Pina Coladas for our last night at the Royal Marmin Bay. As I mentioned in my previous post, our final dinner was a return visit to the Samurai Sushi Bar. I had tempura soft shell crab with a salad - if you like seafood this is a must for you.

Day 7 arrived and we had all day free until our flight home that evening. We took full advantage of the pool, had lunch at the pool bar and of course I had to have one last Pina Colada which became my favourite of the trip. It's not usually a drink I would choose but they make the best here and it's so refreshing. A bit like a fruit smoothy!


7pm and time to leave, our transfer coach arrived and off we went. We had an interesting ride back to Heraklion and saw some beautiful places and more amazing views. But the piece de resistance was an amazing sunset as we neared the airport. A fabulous colourful farewell from the island of Crete and a holiday to remember.

It's my second visit to Crete and there's so much more to this island, it's ancient past and it's beauty. Without a doubt I'll be back again soon.

ευχαριστώ - efcharistó - thank you Crete for your generous warmth and hospitality.